Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9960 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 9960

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to improve the financial aid
              process for homeless and foster care youth.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 27, 2026

    Ms. Kamlager-Dove (for herself and Mrs. Houchin) introduced the
 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and
                               Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to improve the financial aid
              process for homeless and foster care youth.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Higher Education Access and Success
for Homeless and Foster Youth Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    (a) Homeless and Foster Youth.--Section 103 of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1003) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraph (10), paragraphs (11)
        through (22), and paragraphs (23) through (24), as paragraph
        (11), paragraphs (13) through (24), and paragraphs (26) through
        (27), respectively;
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (9) the following:
            ``(10) Foster care youth.--The term `foster care youth'--
                    ``(A) means children and youth whose care and
                placement are the responsibility of the State or Tribal
                agency that administers a State or Tribal plan under
                part B or E of title IV of the Social Security Act (42
                U.S.C. 621 et seq. and 670 et seq.), without regard to
                whether foster care maintenance payments are made under
                section 472 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 672) on behalf of
                such children and youth; and
                    ``(B) includes individuals who were age 13 or older
                when their care and placement were the responsibility
                of a State or Tribal agency that administered a State
                or Tribal plan under part B or E of title IV of the
                Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 621 et seq. and 670 et
                seq.) and who are no longer under the care and
                responsibility of such a State or Tribal agency,
                without regard to any such individual's subsequent
                adoption, guardianship arrangement, or other form of
                permanency outcome.'';
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (11), as redesignated by
        paragraph (1), the following:
            ``(12) Homeless youth.--The term `homeless youth' has the
        meaning given the term `homeless children and youths' in
        section 725 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42
        U.S.C. 11434a).''; and
            (4) by inserting after paragraph (24), as redesignated by
        paragraph (1), the following:
            ``(25) Unaccompanied.--The terms `unaccompanied' and
        `unaccompanied youth' have the meaning given the term
        `unaccompanied youth' in section 725 of the McKinney-Vento
        Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a).''.
    (b) Technical Correction.--Section 480 of the Higher Education Act
of 1965, as amended by section 702(l)(2) of the FAFSA Simplification
Act (title VII of division FF of Public Law 116-260), is amended by
striking subsections (m) and (n).

SEC. 3. STUDENT LOAN OMBUDSMAN ASSISTANCE FOR HOMELESS AND FOSTER
              YOUTH.

    Section 141(f)(3) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1018(f)(3)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' after the
        semicolon;
            (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) receive, review, and resolve expeditiously
                complaints regarding a student's independence under
                paragraph (2) or (8) of section 480(d), in consultation
                with knowledgeable parties, including child welfare
                agencies, local educational agency liaisons for
                homeless youth designated under section
                722(g)(1)(J)(ii) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless
                Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11432(g)(1)(J)(ii)), or State
                Coordinators for Education of Homeless Children and
                Youth established in accordance with section 722 of
                such Act (42 U.S.C. 11432).''.

SEC. 4. LIAISONS AND ACCESS TO HOUSING FOR HOMELESS AND FOSTER YOUTH.

    (a) Access to Housing.--Section 487(a)(19) of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1094(a)(19)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``The institution will not'' and inserting
        the following: ``The institution--
                    ``(A) will not'';
            (2) by inserting ``housing facilities,'' after
        ``libraries,'';
            (3) by striking ``institution.'' and inserting
        ``institution; and''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(B) will provide a means for students to access
                institutionally owned or operated housing if a student
                is temporarily unable to meet financial obligations
                related to housing, including deposits, due to delayed
                disbursement of vouchers for education and training
                made available under section 477 of the Social Security
                Act (42 U.S.C. 677) or delays attributable to the
                institution.''.
    (b) Liaisons.--Section 485 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1092) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(n) Liaisons and Access to Housing for Homeless and Foster
Youth.--Each institution of higher education participating in any
program under this title shall--
            ``(1) have designated an appropriate staff person with
        sufficient capacity and training to act as a liaison to assist
        homeless youth, students who are unaccompanied, at risk of
        homelessness, and self-supporting, and foster care youth in
        accessing and completing postsecondary education, including by
        ensuring that those individuals are connected to applicable and
        available student support services, programs, and community
        resources such as financial aid, academic advising, housing,
        food, public benefits, health care, health insurance, mental
        health care, child care, transportation benefits, and
        mentoring;
            ``(2) post on the institution's website--
                    ``(A) the contact information for the liaison
                designated under paragraph (1);
                    ``(B) information on the process for providing
                documentation for a determination of independence under
                section 479D; and
                    ``(C) information about student financial
                assistance and other assistance available to homeless
                youth, students who are unaccompanied, at risk of
                homelessness, and self-supporting, and foster care
                youth, including their eligibility as independent
                students under paragraph (2) or (8) of sections 480(d);
            ``(3) give priority for any institutionally owned or
        operated housing facilities, including student housing
        facilities that remain open for occupation during school breaks
        or on a year-round basis, to--
                    ``(A) homeless youth;
                    ``(B) youth who are unaccompanied, at risk of
                homelessness, and self-supporting; and
                    ``(C) foster care youth;
            ``(4) have developed a plan for how such homeless youth,
        youth who are unaccompanied, at risk of homelessness, and self-
        supporting, and foster care youth can access housing resources
        during and between academic terms, through means that may
        include access to institutionally owned or operated housing
        during breaks and a list of housing resources in the community
        that provide short-term housing; and
            ``(5) include, in its application for admission, questions
        (to be answered voluntarily) regarding the applicant's status
        as a homeless youth (including unaccompanied homeless youth),
        youth who is unaccompanied, at risk of homelessness, and self-
        supporting, or foster care youth, that--
                    ``(A) can be answered by the applicant voluntarily
                for the limited purpose of being provided information
                about financial aid or any other available assistance;
                    ``(B) explain the key terms in the question in a
                manner that applicants can understand in order to self-
                identify with such status; and
                    ``(C) with consent of the applicant, may be shared
                with the liaison after admission but prior to the
                beginning of the next academic term.''.

SEC. 5. SERVING HOMELESS AND FOSTER YOUTH IN FEDERAL TRIO PROGRAMS.

    Section 402A of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a-
11) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (c)(6), by striking the last sentence and
        inserting the following: ``The Secretary shall require each
        applicant for funds under the programs authorized by this
        chapter to identify and conduct outreach to homeless youth and
        foster care youth, and make available to homeless youth and
        foster care youth services under such programs, including
        mentoring, tutoring, and other services provided by such
        programs.''; and
            (2) in subsection (f)(2), by striking ``college students,
        and'' and inserting ``college students, homeless youth, foster
        care youth, and''.

SEC. 6. SERVING HOMELESS AND FOSTER YOUTH IN TALENT SEARCH.

    Section 402B(d) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1070a-12(d)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (3), by striking ``and'' after the
        semicolon;
            (2) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end and
        inserting a semicolon; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) require an assurance that the entity carrying out the
        project has reviewed and revised policies and practices as
        needed to remove barriers to the participation and retention in
        the project of homeless youth and foster care youth;
            ``(6) require that such entity submit, as part of the
        application for the project, a description of the activities
        that will be undertaken to reach out to such homeless youth and
        foster care youth as part of the project; and
            ``(7) require an assurance that such entity will prepare
        and submit the report required under section 402H(e) at the
        conclusion of the project regarding such homeless youth and
        foster care youth.''.

SEC. 7. SERVING HOMELESS AND FOSTER YOUTH IN UPWARD BOUND.

    Section 402C(e) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1070a-13(e)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (4), by striking ``and'' after the
        semicolon;
            (2) in paragraph (5), by striking the period at the end and
        inserting a semicolon; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(6) require an assurance that the entity carrying out the
        project has reviewed and revised policies and practices as
        needed to remove barriers to the participation and retention in
        the project of homeless youth and foster care youth;
            ``(7) require that such entity submit, as part of the
        application, a description of the activities that will be
        undertaken to reach out to such homeless youth and foster care
        youth regarding the project; and
            ``(8) require an assurance that such entity will prepare
        and submit the report required under section 402H(e) at the
        conclusion of the project regarding such homeless youth and
        foster care youth.''.

SEC. 8. SERVING HOMELESS AND FOSTER YOUTH IN STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES.

    Section 402D(e) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1070a-14(e)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' after the
        semicolon;
            (2) in paragraph (6)(B), by striking the period at the end
        and inserting a semicolon; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(7) require an assurance that the entity carrying out the
        project has reviewed and revised policies and practices as
        needed to remove barriers to the participation and retention in
        the project of homeless youth and foster care youth;
            ``(8) require that such entity submit, in the application
        for the project, a description of the activities that will be
        undertaken to reach out to such homeless youth and foster care
        youth, who are enrolled or accepted for enrollment at the
        institution; and
            ``(9) require an assurance that such entity will prepare
        and submit the report required under section 402H(e) at the
        conclusion of the project regarding such homeless youth and
        foster care youth.''.

SEC. 9. SERVING HOMELESS AND FOSTER YOUTH IN EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY
              CENTERS.

    Section 402F(c) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1070a-16(c)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' after the
        semicolon;
            (2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and
        inserting a semicolon; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) require an assurance that the entity carrying out the
        project has reviewed and revised policies and practices as
        needed to remove barriers to the participation and retention in
        the project of homeless youth and foster care youth;
            ``(5) require that such entity submit, as part of the
        application, a description of the activities that will be
        undertaken to reach out to such homeless youth and foster care
        youth regarding the project; and
            ``(6) require an assurance that such entity will prepare
        and submit the report required under section 402H(e) at the
        conclusion of the project regarding such homeless youth and
        foster care youth.''.

SEC. 10. REPORTS AND EVALUATIONS.

    Section 402H of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a-
18) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(e) Report Regarding Homeless and Foster Youth.--Each entity
carrying out a project under section 402B, 402C, 402D, or 402F shall,
at the conclusion of the project, prepare and submit a report to the
Secretary that includes--
            ``(1) data on the number of homeless youth and foster care
        youth served through the project; and
            ``(2) a description of any strategies or program
        enhancements that were used in the project and that were
        effective in meeting the needs of such homeless youth and
        foster care youth.''.

SEC. 11. SERVING HOMELESS AND FOSTER YOUTH IN GAINING EARLY AWARENESS
              AND READINESS FOR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS.

    (a) Applications.--Section 404C(a)(2) of the Higher Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a-23(a)(2)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (I), by striking ``and'' after the
        semicolon;
            (2) in subparagraph (J), by striking the period at the end
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(K) require an assurance that the entity carrying
                out the project has reviewed and revised policies and
                practices as needed to remove barriers to the
                participation and retention in the project of homeless
                youth and foster care youth;
                    ``(L) require that such entity submit, as part of
                the assurance, a description of the activities that
                will be undertaken to reach out to such homeless youth
                and foster care youth regarding the project; and
                    ``(M) require an assurance that such entity will
                prepare and submit the report required under section
                404G(c) at the conclusion of the project regarding such
                homeless youth and foster care youth.''.
    (b) Permissible Activities.--Section 404D(b) of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a-24(b)) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
            ``(16) Facilitating the recruitment, participation, and
        retention of homeless youth and foster care youth, which may
        include--
                    ``(A) establishing partnerships with community-
                based organizations, child welfare agencies, homeless
                shelters, and local educational agency liaisons for
                homeless individuals designated under section
                722(g)(1)(J)(ii) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless
                Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11432(g)(1)(J)(ii)) to
                identify students, improve policies and practices, and
                to establish data sharing agreements;
                    ``(B) carrying out--
                            ``(i) activities to facilitate continued
                        participation despite changes in residence
                        resulting from homelessness or foster care
                        placement; and
                            ``(ii) policies consistent with the
                        McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42
                        U.S.C. 11301 et seq.) to allow for such
                        participation and retention, including allowing
                        continued participation when an eligible
                        student is no longer enrolled in a school
                        served under this chapter on a temporary basis,
                        or providing transitional services and
                        referrals when an eligible student is no longer
                        enrolled in a school served under this chapter
                        on a permanent basis; and
                    ``(C) carrying out other activities to meet the
                needs of such homeless youth and foster care youth.''.
    (c) Evaluation and Report.--Section 404G of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a-27) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d), as
        subsections (d) and (e), respectively; and
            (2) inserting after subsection (b) the following:
    ``(c) Report Regarding Homeless and Foster Youth.--Each entity
carrying out a project under section 404A shall, at the conclusion of
the project, prepare and submit a report to the Secretary that
includes--
            ``(1) data on the number of homeless youth and foster care
        youth served through the project; and
            ``(2) a description of any strategies or program
        enhancements that were used in the project and that were
        effective in meeting the needs of such homeless youth and
        foster care youth.''.

SEC. 12. PRIORITY FOR FEDERAL WORK-STUDY PROGRAMS FOR HOMELESS AND
              FOSTER YOUTH.

    Section 443(b)(6) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1087-53(b)(6)) is amended by inserting ``, and prioritize employment
for students who are homeless youth or foster care youth'' after
``thereof''.

SEC. 13. DATA TRANSPARENCY ON THE NUMBER OF PENDING REQUESTS FOR
              DETERMINATION BY HOMELESS YOUTH.

    Section 483 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1090),
as amended by section 702(m)(1) of the FAFSA Simplification Act (title
VII of division FF of Public Law 116-260), is amended in subsection
(c)(2)--
            (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' after the
        semicolon;
            (2) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by striking the period at the
        end and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) the number of undetermined requests for
                homelessness consideration, including statuses that
                remain unknown because no determination had been made
                in response to the applicant's request for the
                institution to consider the applicant's special
                circumstance of being homeless.''.

SEC. 14. IN-STATE TUITION RATES FOR HOMELESS AND FOSTER YOUTH.

    Section 135 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1015d)
is amended--
            (1) in the section heading, by inserting ``and homeless
        youth and foster care youth'' after ``service'';
            (2) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking ``(a) Requirement.--In the case''
                and inserting the following:
    ``(a) Requirement.--
            ``(1) Qualifying federal service.--In the case''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) Homeless and foster youth.--In the case of a homeless
        youth or a foster care youth, such State shall not charge such
        individual tuition and required fees for attendance at a public
        institution of higher education in the State at a rate that is
        greater than the rate of tuition and required fees charged for
        residents of the State.''; and
            (3) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
    ``(c) Effective Date.--
            ``(1) Qualifying federal service.--With respect to an
        individual described in subsection (a)(1), this section shall
        take effect at each public institution of higher education in a
        State that receives assistance under this Act for the first
        period of enrollment at such institution that begins after July
        1, 2009.
            ``(2) Homeless and foster youth.--With respect to an
        individual described in subsection (a)(2), this section shall
        take effect at each public institution of higher education in a
        State that receives assistance under this Act for the first
        period of enrollment at such institution that begins during the
        first full award year following the effective date of the
        Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster
        Youth Act of 2026.''.

SEC. 15. SECRETARIAL SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE FOR HOMELESS AND FOSTER
              YOUTH.

    Part B of title I (20 U.S.C. 1011 et seq.) is amended by adding at
the end the following:

``SEC. 124. SECRETARIAL SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE FOR HOMELESS AND FOSTER
              YOUTH.

    ``(a) Guidance.--Not later than 120 days after the date of
enactment of the Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and
Foster Youth Act of 2026, the Secretary shall issue revised guidance
for institutions and financial aid administrators regarding serving
homeless youth (including unaccompanied homeless youth), students who
are unaccompanied, at risk of homelessness, and self-supporting, and
foster care youth, including the requirements of the determination
process for financial aid administrators as specified in section 479D.
    ``(b) Professional Development.--Beginning not later than 1 year
after the date of enactment of the Higher Education Access and Success
for Homeless and Foster Youth Act of 2026, the Secretary shall conduct
an annual professional development or training program, such as a
webinar, for liaisons described under section 485(n) and interested
faculty or staff regarding postsecondary education services for such
homeless youth (including unaccompanied homeless youth), students who
are unaccompanied, at risk of homelessness, and self-supporting, and
foster care youth.
    ``(c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
the Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth
Act of 2026, and not less than once every 5 years thereafter, the
Secretary shall prepare and submit to Congress a report containing
strategies used by institutions, financial aid administrators, and
liaisons described under section 485(n) that were effective in meeting
the needs of such homeless youth (including unaccompanied homeless
youth), students who are unaccompanied, at risk of homelessness, and
self-supporting, and foster care youth, including strategies relating
to streamlining financial aid policies and procedures and postsecondary
education recruitment, retention, and completion.''.

SEC. 16. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    The amendments made by this Act shall take effect and apply as if
included in the FAFSA Simplification Act (title VII of division FF of
Public Law 116-260) and in accordance with section 701(b) of such Act,
as amended by section 102(a) of the FAFSA Simplification Act Technical
Corrections Act (division R of Public Law 117-103) (including the
authorization provided under section 102(c)(1)(A) of such Act).
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